Tibet and parts of Western China had been sealed off to the rest of the world after a series of violent demonstrations against Chinese hegemony by Tibetan activists. China will continue to implement strict security measures, including the need for foreigners to obtain special police permission in order to visit the Tibet Autonomous Region. Some observers believe that such requirements are as much an attempt to control the flow of information out of Tibet as they are meant for the security of visitors.
One Chinese official was quoted by the Associated Press as stating: “We have limited numbers for safety reasons and from April 5 we will start to receive foreign tourists as usual. Right now everything is safe in Tibet, there is no problem”. Unfortunately, some reports indicate that there have been very recent clashes between Tibetan farmers and Chinese forces in parts of Tibet and Western China. Reuters, for example, reported on March 30, 2009, that a Tibetan monk had been killed and eight farmers wounded during one of these clashes.
Local Revenues from Tourism Slump
Many analysts feel that the loss of revenue from tourism in the region is the principal motivation for reopening Tibet to foreign tourists. Revenue from tourism dropped by 59% last year and this has sharpened the effects of an already struggling regional economy and volatile political situation. Chinese authorities have disputed this analysis by claiming that the overall situation in Tibet is stable and by pointing to “substantial social and economic development in the region”.
Tibetan Independence from Chinese Hegemony
China annexed Tibet in 1951 after a military campaign to “liberate” Tibet from traditional theocratic rule and the threat of foreign influences. Since that time it has been ruled as an autonomous region within the People´s Republic of China. This situation has created an unsteady, and sometimes violent, relationship between native Tibetans and Chinese transplants. Moreover, it has also created an international political struggle between the exiled government of Tibet, represented by the Dalai Lama, and the central government of China.
The official Chinese perspective on this dispute was recently affirmed by local Tibetan government officials during the “Serfs´ Emancipation Day” celebration on March 28, 2009. Tibet´s Communist Party leader, Zhang Qingli, told a crowd of 13,000 people that: “The struggle between us and the Dalai Lama is not an issue of ethics, religion or human rights… It's about maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity… We must firmly stand guard and severely crack down on any separatist activities”.
China Controls the Flow of Information
Chinese authorities have traditionally been very cautious towards the dissemination of information within and out of the region. Foreign journalists have been barred from travelling independently (without “proper” supervision) to Tibet during this past year’s security regime. Some journalists have also reported “interferences” by Chinese security forces in Western China with regards to visiting and talking to the Tibetan population there. Subsequently, observers believe that the realities of the situation in Tibet and Western China will not be fully known until the region is opened up to a greater extent.
Phillip Barea - Phillip is a freelance writer and his work is mainly focused on issues in international law and international affairs. His academic ...
